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What does modern motherhood really look like — behind the curated Instagram squares and school pickup smiles?

This week on Mic’d and Medicated, we sit down with Lyss Stern, founder of DivaMoms, for an unfiltered conversation about parenting, ambition, mental health, and raising resilient kids in Manhattan.

We talk about:

• Why most moms secretly feel like they’re failing
• How vulnerability becomes your greatest superpower
• The pressure of raising kids in NYC
• Entrepreneurship and identity beyond motherhood
• Mental health, menopause & the “what now?” phase
• Letting go of perfection and redefining success

Motherhood isn’t aesthetic. It’s messy, loud, humbling — and sometimes brutal. But it’s also powerful when we stop pretending and start telling the truth.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re barely holding it together while trying to build a career, raise decent humans, and not lose your mind — this episode will make you feel seen.

Because resilience isn’t built through perfection. It’s built through honesty.

Hit play if you’re ready for real talk about modern motherhood, NYC parenting culture, ambition, identity, and embracing the chaos.

#MotherhoodPodcast
#LyssStern
#DivaMoms
#NYCMoms
#ModernMotherhood
#WorkingMomLife
#RaisingResilientKids
#MentalHealthForMoms
#MicdAndMedicated

We’re two New York City women talking candidly about the chaos of modern life, from relationships, parenting, working in and out of the home, to what it takes to stay semi-sane in a world that expects you to hold it all together and be #blessed.

We couldn’t find an honest and vulnerable conversation — so we started one! If you need a laugh, a cry, or just want to hear someone else admit their flaws and validate your crazy, you’re in the right place. Be ready to be… Unfiltered, Unafraid, and UnExpert.

Please follow, like, review, and share the podcast with your family and friends!

• Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/micdandmedicated and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@MicdMedicated/podcasts
• Subscribe to our Substack: https://substack.com/@micdandmedicated
• Check out our website: micdandmedicated.com

Surgeon General Warning Disclaimer: We are self-prescribed unexperts, so if you have any real questions or need real advice, please call your nearest doctor.

© 2025 Eva Heyman & Caroline Leventhal

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Are your hormones actually the problem?

In this episode of Mic’d and Medicated, we sit down with double board-certified endocrinologist Dr. Caroline Messer to break down what’s really going on with hormones, metabolism, weight, mood, and longevity.

We talk about:

• Hashimoto’s and why it often overlaps with celiac disease
• Lactose intolerance vs. dairy allergy
• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) — what’s safe and what’s outdated fear
• GLP-1 medications and whether they’re just weight-loss drugs or something bigger
• The stigma around mental health medication
• Sugar moderation, stress, and holistic care

Dr. Messer explains why holistic endocrinology matters, how community improves healthcare outcomes, and why the future of hormone care may be far more nuanced than social media suggests.

“It’s hormones, actually.”

If you’ve ever wondered whether your symptoms are in your head — or in your endocrine system — this episode is for you.

CHAPTERS:

Introduction to the Podcast and Guests

Understanding Endocrinology and Hormones

The Importance of Holistic Care in Medicine

Hormone Replacement Therapy and Women's Health

The Intersection of Medicine and Wellness Industry

Navigating Beauty and Health Concerns

Understanding Mental Health and Medication

Breaking the Stigma Around Medication

Debunking Myths About Weight Loss Medications

Exploring the Benefits of GLP-1 Medications

The Future of GLP-1 and Longevity

Moderation and Healthy Choices in Life

Building Community Through Healthcare

#Endocrinology
#Hormones
#GLP1
#Hashimotos
#CeliacDisease
#HormoneReplacementTherapy
#Longevity
#WomensHealth
#HolisticHealth
#MentalHealth
#MetabolicHealth
#SugarModeration
#MicdAndMedicated

We’re two New York City women talking candidly about the chaos of modern life, from relationships, parenting, working in and out of the home, to what it takes to stay semi-sane in a world that expects you to hold it all together and be #blessed.

We couldn’t find an honest and vulnerable conversation — so we started one! If you need a laugh, a cry, or just want to hear someone else admit their flaws and validate your crazy, you’re in the right place. Be ready to be… Unfiltered, Unafraid, and UnExpert.

Please follow, like, review, and share the podcast with your family and friends!

• Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/micdandmedicated and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@MicdMedicated/podcasts
• Subscribe to our Substack: https://substack.com/@micdandmedicated
• Check out our website: micdandmedicated.com

Surgeon General Warning Disclaimer: We are self-prescribed unexperts, so if you have any real questions or need real advice, please call your nearest doctor.

© 2025 Eva Heyman & Caroline Leventhal

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Valentine’s Day: romantic, performative, overrated… or meaningful?

In this episode of the Mic’d and Medicated Podcast, we unpack the real meaning of Valentine’s Day — from its ancient Roman origins to the modern pressures of love, marriage, and social media.

Why do expectations feel higher the longer you’re in a relationship?
Why does gift-giving create so much pressure?
And has Valentine’s Day become more about being seen in love than actually feeling connected?

We talk about:

• The history of Valentine’s Day and how it evolved
• Gift-giving, romance, and relationship expectations
• Marriage and how romantic gestures change over time
• Social media’s influence on modern dating and love
• Why communication matters more than flowers
• How to reconnect with your partner — without overspending

Whether you’re single, dating, married, or somewhere in between, this conversation explores how to make Valentine’s Day meaningful — not performative.

If you’ve ever felt disappointed, pressured, or confused about what February 14th is supposed to look like, this one’s for you.

Listen, laugh, and maybe rethink what romance actually means.

Valentine’s Day, relationships, marriage, modern dating, love, romance, gift giving, relationship expectations, social media and relationships, history of Valentine’s Day, romantic gestures, long term relationships, dating advice for women, marriage podcast, women and relationships

Chapters

00:00

Introduction to Valentine's Day Episode

05:16

Expectations and Reality of Valentine's Day

11:45

The History of Valentine's Day

18:55

Romance and Relationships

24:20

Changing Dynamics of Valentine's Day Celebrations

30:33

Reflections on Love and Connection

REFERENCE:

https://www.amazon.com/Habits-Highly-Effective-People-Anniversary/dp/B086DD5KSJ/ref=sr_1_2?adgrpid=1331510978875073&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.e-95-Iz5sV1HwKgVrRsDY-CyGVV0ODlIQkDgM80sLL_5d1yB4HgiuOSfn0sWezWyioNWQpkpxIn1iLoJQP713_dPNhk7bWhgAwSaLgPDbpDkoLfYqUhVn8zBJ8sB0mQDbZ0AocXc0JaW0gC7U1tFLsyiHzD2gBCseo_DDWKmZstuii4XcJ-k7BYG0gjer4dqMD9bVrn1tUAh9twyNRZP_FKekuw3p4WV_cynF8o_ga0.ENHINhY7R7xKgLtZOwu6rfjWxdIeQP2Wwr50_aunVzY&dib_tag=se&hvadid=83219711284111&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=59981&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=p&hvtargid=kwd-83220481979810%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=22167_13576407&keywords=7+habits+study+guide&mcid=9e771bafc1503cc999ef4c72f905670a&msclkid=0ab06125fb001d67a2f708a8a969e33a&qid=177

We’re two New York City women talking candidly about the chaos of modern life, from relationships, parenting, working in and out of the home, to what it takes to stay semi-sane in a world that expects you to hold it all together and be #blessed.

We couldn’t find an honest and vulnerable conversation — so we started one! If you need a laugh, a cry, or just want to hear someone else admit their flaws and validate your crazy, you’re in the right place. Be ready to be… Unfiltered, Unafraid, and UnExpert.

Please follow, like, review, and share the podcast with your family and friends!

• Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/micdandmedicated and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@MicdMedicated/podcasts
• Subscribe to our Substack: https://substack.com/@micdandmedicated
• Check out our website: micdandmedicated.com

Surgeon General Warning Disclaimer: We are self-prescribed unexperts, so if you have any real questions or need real advice, please call your nearest doctor.

© 2025 Eva Heyman & Caroline Leventhal

Send us a text

In this episode, we sit down with Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Executive and candidate for Governor of New York, for a candid conversation about leadership in deeply polarized times—and what actually works in government.

Bruce shares his professional journey from the private sector to public service and explains why real-world work experience matters in political leadership. We talk about how Nassau County became a model for lowering taxes while improving public safety and job creation, and why Bruce believes those results can be scaled across New York State.

The conversation doesn’t shy away from big topics: capitalism versus socialism, restoring the American Dream, and the difference between giving people a hand up instead of a handout. As Bruce puts it, “I want to teach people how to fish.”

We also get personal. Bruce opens up about growing up Jewish in a predominantly non-Jewish town, confronting antisemitism, and how those experiences shaped his views on equal opportunity, education, and national unity. He shares why he believes a strong American identity—and the virtue of work—are essential to the country’s future.

Caroline and Eva do plenty of listening (and yes, plenty of talking), and don’t exactly hide where they stand. Whether you agree with Bruce or not, this episode is about hearing different perspectives and having honest, unfiltered conversations we don’t get enough of anymore.

Reference:

https://www.blakemanfornewyork.com/

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Bruce Blakeman
02:54 – Nassau County’s success and New York’s challenges
04:44 – Leadership and the political landscape
06:39 – Growing up Jewish and antisemitism
09:04 – Public safety and law enforcement
11:00 – Engaging diverse communities
13:22 – Values and leadership
15:15 – Campaign strategy and voter outreach
17:09 – Civility in politics
18:59 – Terrorism, rhetoric, and responsibility
20:28 – Work ethic and education
23:10 – Ideology in schools
25:32 – Political shifts in America
26:58 – Immigration and American values
29:23 – Unity vs. diversity
32:27 – Lightning round and final thoughts

We’re two New York City women talking candidly about the chaos of modern life, from relationships, parenting, working in and out of the home, to what it takes to stay semi-sane in a world that expects you to hold it all together and be #blessed.

We couldn’t find an honest and vulnerable conversation — so we started one! If you need a laugh, a cry, or just want to hear someone else admit their flaws and validate your crazy, you’re in the right place. Be ready to be… Unfiltered, Unafraid, and UnExpert.

Please follow, like, review, and share the podcast with your family and friends!

• Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/micdandmedicated and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@MicdMedicated/podcasts
• Subscribe to our Substack: https://substack.com/@micdandmedicated
• Check out our website: micdandmedicated.com

Surgeon General Warning Disclaimer: We are self-prescribed unexperts, so if you have any real questions or need real advice, please call your nearest doctor.

© 2025 Eva Heyman & Caroline Leventhal

Send us a text

In this episode of Mic’d & Medicated, Caroline and Eva sit down with psychologist Dr. Rachel Goldman to talk about what’s really going on in our heads — and how to make it a little more enjoyable in there.

From self-talk and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to body neutrality, social pressure, and the mental gymnastics of modern life, Dr. Goldman breaks down the mind-body connection in a way that’s practical, relatable, and refreshingly non-judgmental. She also shares insights from her upcoming book and reminds us that while life is hard, it doesn’t have to feel hard all the time.

This episode is about building a personal mental toolkit, setting realistic expectations, and focusing on what’s actually within your control — i.e., not pretending you’ll suddenly become a perfectly calm, well-rested, joyful billionaire.

Small shifts. Better self-talk. Less suffering. We learned so much in this conversation — and chances are, you will too.

REFERENCE:

https://www.drrachelnyc.com/about/

https://www.instagram.com/drrachelnyc/

https://www.instagram.com/whenlifehappensbook/

We’re two New York City women talking candidly about the chaos of modern life, from relationships, parenting, working in and out of the home, to what it takes to stay semi-sane in a world that expects you to hold it all together and be #blessed.

We couldn’t find an honest and vulnerable conversation — so we started one! If you need a laugh, a cry, or just want to hear someone else admit their flaws and validate your crazy, you’re in the right place. Be ready to be… Unfiltered, Unafraid, and UnExpert.

Please follow, like, review, and share the podcast with your family and friends!

• Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/micdandmedicated and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@MicdMedicated/podcasts
• Subscribe to our Substack: https://substack.com/@micdandmedicated
• Check out our website: micdandmedicated.com

Surgeon General Warning Disclaimer: We are self-prescribed unexperts, so if you have any real questions or need real advice, please call your nearest doctor.

© 2025 Eva Heyman & Caroline Leventhal

Send us a text

Resolutions feel like punishment. Manifesting feels like flirting with the universe.

In this episode of Mic’d & Medicated, Caroline and Eva get unexpectedly inspired by The Secret—the idea that your thoughts aren’t just thoughts, they’re magnets. After years of forcing goals, obsessing over outcomes, and turning self-improvement into a personality flaw, they unpack why resolutions seldom work and why manifesting starts in your head.

They break down the law of attraction in a way that’s less crystal-healing cult and more usable life strategy: stop fixating on what you don’t want, get clearer about who you actually want to be, and notice how your mindset quietly runs the show. From gratitude and visualization to autopilot living and “inspired action” (aka doing things that don’t feel like torture), in this episode, they argue that belief plus action beats punishment every time.

But let’s be clear—some of The Secret is questionable. The idea that your thoughts alone make you fat? Hard sell. We’re pretty sure it’s not “thinking heavy” that does it—it’s McDonald’s, no exercise, and pretending errands count as cardio. This episode isn’t blind faith; it’s curiosity with a raised eyebrow.

They also tackle the real manifestation mystery: can you rewire your brain so you stop manifesting husbands with terrible taste in gifts? Or are we energetically attracting men who think a charging cord is a love language?

No joyless goal charts. No shame-based rules. Just better thoughts, better energy, and fewer ways to manifest your own misery.

If your thoughts are running the show anyway, you might as well cast them better.

Manifest, baby.

We’re two New York City women talking candidly about the chaos of modern life, from relationships, parenting, working in and out of the home, to what it takes to stay semi-sane in a world that expects you to hold it all together and be #blessed.

We couldn’t find an honest and vulnerable conversation — so we started one! If you need a laugh, a cry, or just want to hear someone else admit their flaws and validate your crazy, you’re in the right place. Be ready to be… Unfiltered, Unafraid, and UnExpert.

Please follow, like, review, and share the podcast with your family and friends!

• Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/micdandmedicated and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@MicdMedicated/podcasts
• Subscribe to our Substack: https://substack.com/@micdandmedicated
• Check out our website: micdandmedicated.com

Surgeon General Warning Disclaimer: We are self-prescribed unexperts, so if you have any real questions or need real advice, please call your nearest doctor.

© 2025 Eva Heyman & Caroline Leventhal

Send us a text

In this week’s episode, Caroline and Eva are joined by Dr. Jaime Knopman, reproductive endocrinologist, infertility specialist, and co-author of Own Your Fertility, for the conversation no one had with us early enough. The truth? Fertility doesn’t fall off a cliff — it slowly declines until one day it suddenly matters a lot.

They dig into egg freezing as empowerment versus false security, how (and when) to talk to our daughters before panic sets in, and why men need to be part of this conversation too. From ambition and delayed adulthood to single-mom-by-choice culture, this episode goes where most polite conversations never do.

Along the way, Dr. Knopman shares real stories from the front lines of fertility medicine — including how frozen eggs can turn into a baby years later in ways that feel miraculous. They also get honest about the things no one taught us: how to make a bed, boil an egg, or plan for our biological future.

Unfiltered, hilarious, and unexpectedly emotional, this is the fertility conversation you wish you’d had ten years ago.

Reference:
https://drjaimeknopman.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Own-Your-Fertility-Freezing-Surrogacy/dp/1324111488

We’re two New York City women talking candidly about the chaos of modern life, from relationships, parenting, working in and out of the home, to what it takes to stay semi-sane in a world that expects you to hold it all together and be #blessed.

We couldn’t find an honest and vulnerable conversation — so we started one! If you need a laugh, a cry, or just want to hear someone else admit their flaws and validate your crazy, you’re in the right place. Be ready to be… Unfiltered, Unafraid, and UnExpert.

Please follow, like, review, and share the podcast with your family and friends!

• Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/micdandmedicated and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@MicdMedicated/podcasts
• Subscribe to our Substack: https://substack.com/@micdandmedicated
• Check out our website: micdandmedicated.com

Surgeon General Warning Disclaimer: We are self-prescribed unexperts, so if you have any real questions or need real advice, please call your nearest doctor.

© 2025 Eva Heyman & Caroline Leventhal

Send us a text

Holiday cards, family trips, screen time, and the illusion of “getting away.” In this episode, Caroline and Eva unpack why traveling with kids is really just a high-cost relocation—with elevated expectations and cortisol levels. You’re basically paying more to be annoyed somewhere else.

Add in NYC’s relentless pressure to leave town during every school break (Africa? Australia? Casual.), the mysterious phenomenon of dads suddenly having “work calls” on Christmas Day (what exactly are they doing—working for Santa?), and the miracle of your husband packing nothing yet somehow having everything he needs—while complaining that you overpacked.

They also dive into trends for 2026 (sneak peek: middle-aged women are having a moment, redefining beauty and style). You won’t want to miss this hilarious episode to kick off your new year mood.

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women podcast, parenting podcast, comedy podcast, family vacation, parenting humor, modern motherhood, screen time, midlife women, body image

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Chapters

00:00 Holiday Reflections and New Year Greetings

06:00 Cultural Trends and Language Evolution

12:00 Traveling with Family: Expectations vs. Reality

17:30 The Challenges of Family Vacations

25:00 The Digital Addiction Dilemma

32:00 Vacation Realities: The Extra Child

40:00 Fashion Faux Pas and Expectations

46:30 Reflections and Future Aspirations

----------------

References

Bari Weiss https://podscan.fm/podcasts/honestly-with-bari-weiss-5/episodes/what-to-expect-in-2026-with-niall-ferguson-john-mcwhorter-dr-mark-hyman-leandra-medine-cohen-suzy-weiss-and-sarah-isgur

Year of the horse IG post https://www.instagram.com/p/DS5FGsUDsg6/?img_index=1

Seinfeld episode about sweatpants https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0Hbu4Z4pGI

-----------------

We’re two New York City women talking candidly about the chaos of modern life, from relationships, parenting, working in and out of the home, to what it takes to stay semi-sane in a world that expects you to hold it all together and be #blessed.

We couldn’t find an honest and vulnerable conversation — so we started one! If you need a laugh, a cry, or just want to hear someone else admit their flaws and validate your crazy, you’re in the right place. Be ready to be… Unfiltered, Unafraid, and UnExpert.

Please follow, like, review, and share the podcast with your family and friends!

• Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/micdandmedicated and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@MicdMedicated/podcasts
• Subscribe to our Substack: https://substack.com/@micdandmedicated
• Check out our website: micdandmedicated.com

Surgeon General Warning Disclaimer: We are self-prescribed unexperts, so if you have any real questions or need real advice, please call your nearest doctor.

© 2025 Eva Heyman & Caroline Leventhal